Apparatus for encasing a product

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for encasing a product including a product encasing machine, linking apparatus, and a looping apparatus. The product encasing machine includes a rotatable stuffing tube having a fine head mounted on its forward end. The fin head imparts rotational drive and longitudinal drag to the casing as the casing passes thereover as the casing is being filled. The rearward end of the stuffing tube is mounted in a socket type apparatus to permit the stuffing tube to be pivotally moved upwardly and laterally to facilitate the installation of the folded casing thereon. Means is also provided for fluidly lubricating the interior surfaces of the stuffing tube to prevent product smear. The linking apparatus includes a pair of loop members carrying pinching members thereon. The pinching members are constructed of a moldable material and are detachably mounted on the loop members. The pinching members include pinching surfaces adapted to engage and collapse the rotating casing issuing from the encasing machine. The pinching surfaces each include at least one portion in vertical alignment with the longitudinal center line of the loop on which it is carried so that it will travel at a uniform velocity as it is carried by the loop members. A separate control means is provided for the rotating stuffing tube to permit the stuffing tube to be separately controlled as to speed independent of all other drives.

United States Patent 11 1 Townsend et al.

[ APPARATUS FOR ENCASING A PRODUCT [73] Assignee: Townsend EngineeringCompany,

Des Moines, Iowa [22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 294,215

[52] [1.8. Cl. 17/34 [51] Int. Cl. A22c 11/00 [58] Field of Search o.17/33, 34

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.776.449 1/1957 Cross ..l17/34 3.209.396 10/1965 Millenaar 17/34 3.264.679 8/1966 Moekle 17/33Primary Examinen-Robert Peshock Attorney, Agent, or Firm-'Zarley, McKee,Thomte & Voorhees 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus for encasing a productincluding a product encasing machine, linking apparatus, and a loop-Mar. 4, 1975 ing apparatus. The product encasing machine includes arotatable stuffing tube having a fine head mounted on its forward end.The fin head imparts rotational drive and longitudinal drag to thecasing as the casing 1 passes thereover as the casing is being filled.The rearward end of the stuffing tube is mounted in a socket typeapparatus to permit the stuffing tube to be pivotally moved upwardly andlaterally to facilitate the installation of the folded casing thereon.Means is also provided for fluidly lubricating the interior surfaces ofthe stuffing tube to prevent product smear. The linking apparatusincludes a pair of loop members carrying pinching members thereon. Thepinching members are constructed of a moldable material and aredetachably mounted on-the loop members. The pinching members includepinching surfaces adapted to engage and collapse the rotating casingissuing from the encasing machine. The pinching surfaces each include atleast one portion in vertical alignment with the longitudinal centerline of the loop on which it is carried so that it will travel at auniform velocity as it is carried by the loop members. A separatecontrol means is provided for the rotating stuffing tube to permit thestuffing tube to be separately controlled as to speed independent of allother drives.

5 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures PATENTEW" 3.868.747 sum 1 er A PATENTED MAR41975 sum 2 u; 41

APPARATUS FOR ENCASlNG A PRODUCT This invention relates to a machine forencasing a product to provide sausage or franks and the like and moreparticularly to a machine capable to encasing a product within casingsmade of delicate material such as natural animal intestines or delicateartificial material.

Presently known product encasing devices include a stuffing tube, apuump for pumping plastic product through the stuffing tube, a rotarychuck in front of the discharge end of the stuffing tube, linkingapparatus for linking the filled casing, and looping apparatus forarranging the links in loops. Prior to the encasing operation, a foldedcasing is mounted over the stuffing tube. The folded casing iscompressed in an accordion-like fashion, and includes one unfolded endprotruding beyond the discharge end of the stuffing tube. As the productissues from the discharge end of the stuffing tube, it fills the portionofthe casing protruding therebeyond, thereby filling the casing andpropelling it away from the discharge end so that additional portions ofthe casing will be unfolded and moved in front of the discharge end ofthe stuffing tube. Presently known devices utilize a non-rotatablestuffing tube and include a chuck surrounding the filled casings androtating so as to impart rotation thereto. The rotating chuck causes thefilled casing to rotate with respect to the yet unfilled folded casingon the stuffing tube. While this arrangement is satisfactory for casingsmade of strong materals such as cellulose, it is not satisfactory formore delicate materials such as natural casings made of animalintestines or some artificial dissolvable or edible casings which areeasily torn and which cannot satisfactorily endure rotation. Therotation of the chuck causes a torsional force to be exerted between therotating filled casing and the stationary casing on the stuffing tube,and often results in tearing of the casing at a point between thestuffing tube and the chuck. Existing devices cannot function with acontinuous flow of meat.

Presently known linking devices are positioned in front of the dischargeend of the stuffing tube in a position where they can engage the filledcasing and pinch it at various points along its lengths so as to createa plurality of links. This pinching action collapses and weakens thecylinder of filled casing so that a twist is formed by the continuingrotation of the unpinched portion of the casing. Pinching is usuallyaccomplished in present devices by means of V-shaped pinching memberswhich engage the opposite sides of the casing and pinch it so as tocause a link to'be formed therein.

The pinching members are mounted on chains trained around two sets ofsprockets, and include V-shaped notches spaced radiallyoutwardly beyondthe path followed by the longitudinal center lines of the belts as theypass around the drive sprockets. Consequently, a whipping action isdeveloped when the V-shaped notches are carried around each of thesprockets. This whipping action causes the pinching members to tear intothe casing as they approach and engage the casing.

While present linking devices generally do not cause tearing incellulose casings, they very often cause natural or dissolvable casingsto be torn or be jerked free from the action of the rotating chuck. v

The present invention includes improvements over devices heretoforeknown in that it provides means for teating the casing gently as it isbeing filled and linked.

The stuffing tube is adapted to rotate with a folded casing mountedthereon, and consequently the casing is rotated both before filling,during: filling, and immediately after it is filled. A removable: finhead is provided on the discharge end of the stuffing tube so as toimpart rotational drive and longitudinal drag to the casing to give thecasing an opportunity to completely fill.

Previous devices created smear in the finished product and suchsmeargreatly detracts from the appearance of the product. Additionally,the previous devices do not have the necessary controls thereon topermit precise controlling of the product pump and coordination thereofwith the rotating stuffing tube. Therefore, a principal object of thepresent invention is to provide a product encasing apparatus which iscapable of filling a delicate casing material without tearing it.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus which will encase a product within natural casings anddissolvable casings presently being used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusincluding a fin head on the rotating stuffing tube which impartsrotational drive and longitudinal drag on the casing so that the casingwill completely fill.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus includingmeans for creating a lubricating film between the product and therotating stuffing tube.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus includingimproved pinching members in the linking apparatus which .will carefullycontrol the length of each segment of encased product without theimposition of substantial drag or tension on the casing material.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus includingguide channels thereon for supporting the franks or sausages.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus includingmeans for quickly and easily installing casings on the stuffing tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which iseconomical of manufacture and durable in use. 7

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for encasing a product:

FIG. 2 is a top view of the linking portion of the apparatus:

FIG. 3 is a side view of the linking apparatus:

FIG. 4 is a sectional view seen along lines 44 of FIG. 3:

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pinching member and the chain uponwhich it is mounted:

FIG. 6 is an end view of the pinching member of FIG. 5 with portionsthereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention:

FIG. 7 is a side view of the pinching member of FIGS. 5 and 6 as seenalong lines 77 of FIG. 6:

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken through the encasing portion ofthe invention:

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the means for supplying a filmof lubricating fluid between the stuffing tube and the product: 4

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view illustrating the means for pivotallymounting the rearward end of the stuffing tube:

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 except that the stuffing tube hasbeen pivotally moved with respect to its support means:

FIG; 12 is an exploded perspective view of a fin head and the dischargeend of the stuffing tube:

FIG. 13 is a sectional view seen along lines l313 of FIG. 12:

FIG. 14 is a sectional view seen along lines 14l4 of FIG. 13:

FIG. 15 is an elevational view illustrating the fin head of FIG. 12 andits relationshipwith respect to the stuffing tube and casing:

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 12 except that a modified form of thefin head is shown:

FIG. 17 is a sectional view seen along lines 1717 of FIG. 16:

FIG. 18 is a sectional view ofa further modified form of the fin head:

FIG. 19 is a sectional view seen along lines 1919 of FIG. 18:

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a still further modified form of thefin head:

FIG. 21 is a sectional view seen along lines 2l2l of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 22 is a schematic view illustrating the drive and control system ofthe apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates anapparatus for encasing a product so as to produce sausages, franks andthe like. Apparatus 10in cludes a casing filling machine 12, a linkingapparatus 14, a looping apparatus 16, and a support cabinet 18 having adrivesystem 20 (FIG. 22) enclosed therein.

Support cabinet 18 includes a plurality of support legs 22, four cabinetside walls 24, and a cabinet top 26. Casing filling machine 12 ismounted on and supported by cabinet top 26 and includes a product pump28 which is adapted to pump products of plastic consistency. Productpumps of this type are known in the art and therefore furtherdescription of pump 28 is unnecessary other than to state that itincludes an inlet 30 adapted to be connected to a conduit leading from asupply of plastic products, and further includes an outlet conduit 32which is adapted to receive the product being discharged from the pump18.

A spindle housing 36 includes a chamber 38 therein V and furtherincludesan inlet coupling 39 for retentively receiving the connecting conduit 34therein. Connecting conduit 34 is also received by the outlet conduit 32as illustrated in FIG. 8. Rotatably mounted within housing 36 is aspindle assembly 40 which includes a spindle tube 42 which is rotatablyjournaled in housing 36 by means of front and rear bearings 44 and 46.Spindle tube 42 includes a belt receiving track 48 on its outer surface.Track 48 includes a plurality of small teeth thereon adapted to engageteeth on the interior surface of a drive belt 50 which is trained aroundtrack 48.

An arcuate, annular channel 52 is formed in the exterior surface ofspindle tube 42 forwardly of the rearward end thereof as illustrated inFIG. 9. The extreme rearward end of the spindle tube 42 has a reducedoutside diameter portion to provide an annular passageway 54 whichextends rearwardly from channel 52 to the rearward end of the spindletube 42. A fluid inlet coupling 56 is threadably mounted on theconnecting conduit 34 and is communication with channel 52 asillustrated in FIG. 9. Inlet coupling 56 is in communication with asource of fluid under predetermined pressure for supplying the fluid,such as water, to the channel 52 and passageway 54. O-ring 58 isprovided in the connecting conduit 34 and sealably embraces the exteriorsurface of the spindle tube 42 as shown in FIG. 9.

Spindle tube 42 is provided with a head 60 at its forward end having asemi-circular inner wall portion 62 formed therein as seen in FIG. 10.The numeral 64 refers to a collar which is adapted for threadableconnection to the head 60 and which also has a semi-circular inner wallsurface 66 which is complementary to the wall surface 62. Collar 64 isadapted to selectively maintain the assembly 68 therein which will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter. The numeral 70 refers to astuffing tube having its rearward end received by the assembly 68. Morespecifically, assembly 68 includes an inner support member 72 which isslidably received by the outer support member 74. Stuffing tube 70 isfrictionally embraced by the inner support member 72 to prevent theseparation thereof. Outer support member 74 is provided with an annulargroove 76 formed therein while inner support member 72 is provided withan annular groove 78 formed therein which registers with the groove 76.A plurality of resilient 0- rings 80 are positioned in the grooves 76and 78 to normally maintain the inner and outer support members 72 and74 in the position of FIG. 10. In the position of FIG. 10, shoulder 82of inner support member 72 is spaced from the shoulder 84 of outersupport member 74. Inner support member 72 is also provided with anannular indentation 86 formed therein which is adapted to engage theshoulder 88 of collar 64 when the components are in the position of FIG.10. Thus, in the position of FIG. 10, the O-rings 80 yieldably maintainthe stuffing tube 70 in the horizontal position due to the engagement ofthe shoulder 88 and the indentation 86. The stuffing tube 70 may bepivotally moved from the position of FIG. 10 to the position of FIG. 11by simply applying rearward pressure to the inner support member 72 soas to compress the O-rings 80 to permit the indentation 86 to be movedout of engagement with the shoulder 88. When indentation 86 has beenmoved out of engagement with the shoulder 88, the assembly 68 and thestuffing tube 70 may be moved to the position of FIG. 11. Movement ofthe stuffing tube 70 from the position of FIG. ll to the position ofFIG. 10 causes the assembly to be yieldably locked in the position ofFIG. 10 since the O-rings 80 exert forward pressure on the inner supportmember 72 thereby urging the indentation 86 to again move intoengagement with the'shoulder 88. O-rlng 90 is positioned between thecollar64 and the outer support member 74 and exerts a slight frictionalpressure thereon to yieldably maintain the stuffing tube 70 in theposition of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate one form of a fin head that may be mounted on theforward end of the stuffing tube 70 and generally indicated by thereference nu meral 92. As seen in FIG. 12, the forward end of stuffingtube 70 is provided with a reduced outside diameter portion 93. Fin head92 includes an inwardly tapered portion 94'at its outer rearward end andincludes an outwardly tapered portion 96 at its forward end. Fin head 92has an elongated bore 98 extending therethrough which is adapted toembrace the forward end portion 93 of stuffing tube 70. Fin head 92 isalso provided with a funnel-like opening 100 at its forward end whichcommunicates with the bore 98. Fin head 92 has a spring compartment 102formed in the inner forward end thereof adapted to receive the coilspring 104. Coil spring 104 has an outwardly extending end 106 which isreceived by the opening 108 formed in the fin head 92 as seen in FIG.13. Coil spring 104 frictionally embraces the forward end of stuffingtube 70 as illustrated in FIG. 13 to provide a slip clutch arrangementthere between. In other words, the coil spring 104 permits fin head 92to rotate in a counterclockwise direction with respect to stuffing tube70 as viewed in FIG. 12 while preventing clockwise rotation of the finhead 92 with respect to the stuffing tube 70. A pair of fins 110 and 110extend outwardly from the fin head 92 as illustrated in FIG. 12. Finheads 110 and 110 are identical and are oppositely disposed with respectto the fin head 92. As seen in FIG. 12, fin 110 includes a rearward endportion 112 and a forward portion 114. The fin 110 extends upwardly,forwardly and laterally from its rearward to forward ends. FIG.illustrates the relationship of the fin head 92 and a casing generallyreferred to by the reference numeral 116.

A modified form of-the fin head is illustrated in FIG. 16 and isreferred to generally by the reference numeral 118. In FIG. 16, thestuffing tube 70 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed L-shapedslots 120 and 122. Fin. head 118 includes a pair of flexible fins 124and 124 extendingtherefrom as seen in the drawings. The flexiblecharacteristics of the fins 124 and 124' permit the same to be deflectedas illustrated in FIG. 19 as will beexplained in more detailhereinafter. Fin head 118 includes a pin 126 extending inwardly into thecentral bore 128 which is adapted to be received by either of the slots120 and 122 to detachably secure the fin head 1.18 to the stuffing tube70.

A further'modified form of the fin head is illustrated in FIGS. and 21and is generally referred to by the reference numeral 130. Fin head 130includes a body portion 132 having an outwardlytapered forward end 134with the central bore 136 extending through the body portion 132 and end134 as seen in FIG. 21. A pair of flexible wire fins 138 and 138' extendoutwardly from the fin head 130 as seen in FIG. 21. The rearward ends ofthe fins 138 and 138' are secured to the body portion 132 by welding orthe like. Each of the tins 138 and 138' extend forwardly and upwardlyfrom their rearward ends and then extend inwardly towards the fin headtodefine shoulders 140 and 140' respectively.

The fins 138 and 138' have forward end portions 142 and 142'respectively which are received by slots 144 and 144 formed in the end134 to permit the fins to be deflectedfrom the position illustrated bysolid lines in FIG. 21 to the position illustrated by broken lines inFIG. 21. Pin 146 extends inwardly from the body portion 132 and would bereceived in the notches 120 or 122 of the stuffing tube 70.

Linking apparatus 14 comprises a frame 148 which is supported abovecabinet top 26 by means ofa plurality of legs 150. Operatively securedabove frame 148 is a gear plate 152 which cooperates with frame 148 toform a gear box 154 adapted to house a pair of intermeshing link drivegears 156, 158 (FIG. 22). Extendingupwardly from gear 156 is a shortshaft 160 which supports a sprocket or drive wheel 162 at its upper end.Extending upwardly from gear 158 is a long shaft 164 which supports asprocket or drive wheel 166 at its upper end. Rotatably mounted on frame148 in the same plane as sprocket 162 is a freewheeling sprocket 168,and also rotatably mounted on frame 148 is another freewheeling sprocketwhich is in the same plane as drive sprocket 166. Trained aroundsprockets 162 and 168 is a first loop chain 172, and trained aroundsprockets 166 and 170 is a second loop chain 174. Chains 172 and 174 arepositioned in horizontal planes spaced from one another and arepositioned so they each have common portions 176 and 178, respectively,which pass in verticalalignment with one another. The elongated vicinitywhere portions I76 and 178 travel in vertical alignment will begenerally referred to hereinafter as a linking station. Rigidly securedto frame 148 are a pair of backing plate members 180 and 182, which runalong the opposite sides of the linking station. Elongated guidechannels 184 and 186 are secured to the backing plates 180 and 182respectively between the common portions 176 and 178 to provide a guidemeans for the franks or the like as the franks or the like pass throughthe linking station.

A plurality of pinching members 188 are detachably mounted on each ofthe loop chains 172 and 174. Each of the pinching members 188 comprisesa base 190 having an attachment portion 192 positioned therebelow asillustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Attachment portion 192 comprises aflexible wall 194 having a beveled shoulder 196 extending therefromadjacent its lower end as viewed in FIG. 5. Attachment portion 192 alsoincludes a base 198 at its upper end which extends laterally from thewall 194 and which is connected to the base 190 by a web portion 200.Openings 202 and 204 extend through the base 190, web portion 200 andbase 198 for receiving the pins 206 and 208 from the loop chain as seenin FIG. 5. The pinching member 188 is secured to the loop chain bysimply positioning the member 188 so that the pins 206 and 208 extendupwardly through the openings 202 and 204. The wall 194 is deflectedoutwardly from the chain to permit the pins to be extended upwardlythrough the openings 202 and 204. When base 198 is in engagement withthe upper portion of the loop chain as seen in FIG. 6, the wall 194 isdeflected towards the loop chain so that the shoulder 196 is positionedbelow the loop chain to maintain the pinching member 188 on the loopchain. Each of the pinching members 188 also comprises a wall or plateportion 210 which extends upwardly from the base 190 as seen in thedrawings. The lateral edge of wall 210 is provided with a V-shaped notch212 including an apex 214. Each of the apexes 214 of the pinchingmembers 188 is in approximate vertical alignment with a longitudinalcenter line of'each of the loop chains. While the exact apex of eachnotch 212 need not be in exact vertical alignment with the center lines,at least a portion of the V-shapedl notch 212 should be in such verticalalignment. Such aligned portions, however, should preferably be adjacentapex 214. Because of their vertical alignment with the center line.apexes 214 or the portions adjacent thereto do not accelerate whenpassing around the outer peripheral edges of sprockets 162, 166 orsprockets 168, 170. The pinching notches of previous devices areentirely outside the line formed by the center line in each loop chain.As a result of this arrangement, the pinching notches of the pinchingmembers in previous designs accelerate as they move around the arcuatepaths surrounding each sprocket. Notches 212 are an improvement overprevious devices in that at least a portion of each notch 212 ispositioned in direct vertical alignment below the center line of chain174 or above the center line ofchain 172 depending upon which chain thepinching member 188 is mounted upon. Consequently, at least a portion ofeach pinching notch 212 traces a path identical to, but spaced from, thelongitudinal center line of the loop chain on which it is mounted. Thesealigned portions of notches 212 trace an are around each sprocket whichhas a radius of curvature the same as the radius of curvature formed bythe longitudinal center line of the sprocket chain on which itis'mounted, thereby causing a minimum of whipping action of the notch asit passes around the sprocket. Preferably, the pinching member 188 isconstructed of a suitable nylon material to permit the economicalmolding of the same. The pinching member 188 may be easily mounted onthe loop chains in the manner previously described. When the machine isbeing used to form frankfurters, the franks would ordinarily be 6 inchesor 12 inches long. Thus, the pinching members 188 would normally beinstalledon the chains every six inches. When 12-inch franks weredesired to be manufactured, every other pinching member would be removedfrom the chains to form franks having a length of l2 inches.

Each pinching member 188 on chain 172 is adapted to cooperate with oneof the pinching members 188 on the loop chain l74'as it passing by thelinking station so as to collapse filled casing issuing from stuffingtube 70. The rotational movement of the casing rearwardly of the pointwhere it is collapsed causes a twist to be imparted adjacent the pointwhere the casing has been collapsed.

Looping apparatus 16 is positioned immediately forwardly of linkingapparatus 14 so as to receive the linked casings issuing from linkingapparatus 14. Looping apparatus 16 includes a swinging apparatus 216 anda loop conveying device 218. Swinging device 216 includes a support let220 which is operatively secured to support cabinet 18. The stuffedcasings are fed into the horn funnel 222 which in turn feeds the casingsto-the swinging device 216 which is driven by shaft 224. The swingingdevice or swing horn as it is commonly called is synchronized with themovement of the hooks 226 so teeth 240 thereon. Clutch bearing 238 isadapted to slide longitudinally on shaft 236, but engages the splines onthe shaft 236 so that it is held against rotational movement withrespect to shaft 236. Clutch bearing 238 is housed within a retainingcollar 242 which permits rotational movement of clutch bearings 238therein but which also holds clutch bearing 238 against axial movementof shaft 236. Retaining collar 242 is pivotally connected to a pluralityof links 244 which in turn are connected to a pump clutch handle 246.Handle 246 is mounted on the outside of support cabinet 18 and isadapted to be manually manipulated to move clutch bearing 238 between adisengaged position wherein teeth 240 are spaced from pump to an engagedposition wherein teeth 240 engage pump 28.

Mounted on shaft 236 intermediate its ends is a variable speed pulleyincluding means for manually controlling the speed thereof. Belt 250 istrained around pulley 248 and pulley 252 is mounted on shaft 254 whichis connected to the sprocket 156 as seen in FIG. 2. Pulley 256 isoperatively secured to the extreme lower end of the shaft 254 and isoperatively connected to the pulley 258 by the belt 260. Pulley 258 issecured to the lower end of a shaft 262, which drives the swing horn216. Pulley 264 is also secured to the shaft 262 for rotation therewithand is operatively secured to the pulley 266 on shaft 268 by belt 270.Shaft 268 is operatively connected to and drives the conveyor system.

Motor 228 is controlled by control switch 272 while motor 274 iscontrolled by the switch 276. A variable speed control 278 is providedbetween the switch 276 and the motor 274 to permit the speed of themotor 274 to be precisely controlled independently of any othercomponent in the system. Thus, stuffing tube 70 may be rotated at anydesired speed through the use of the control 278.

The means for supplying water to the connection 56 have not been shownbut it should be understood that a variable output water pump would beprovided and would be operatively connected to the meat pump 18.

In other words, a suitable gear and pulley arrangement I will beprovided between the meat pump 18 and the that one hook passes by theextreme forward end of the motor 228 having a pulley 230 operativelyconnected to its output shaft. A first drive belt 232 is trained aroundpulley 230 and a similar but larger pulley 34 is mounted on the lowerend of a pump drive shaft 236. Extreme upper end of drive shaft 236includes a plurality of splines (not shown) thereon. Slidably mountedover the extreme upper end of shaft 236 is a pump clutch bearing 238having a pair of upwardly presented water pump to coordinate the flow ofwater through the inlet 56 and the flow of meat through the pump 18.

Before the system is placed in operation, it is necessary to positionthe folded casing over the stuffing tube 70. The stuffing tube ispivoted upwardly from the position of FIG. 10 to the position of FIG. 11as previously described to facilitate the mounting of the casing 116 onthe stuffing tube 70. Before the casing 116 is mounted on the stuffingtube 70, the fin head thereon is removed. The casing 116 is thenslidably extended over the tube 70 and the fin head replaced thereon.The stuffing tube 70 is then pivotally moved from the position of FIG.11 to the position of FIG. 10 so that it is properly positioned.Actuation of the motor 28 causes meat pump 28 to be activated as well asthe water pump connected thereto. Actuation of the motor 28 also causesthe linking and looping apparatus to be actuated. Actuation of the pump28 causes the meat product, generally indicated by the reference numeral290 to be pumped through the independently rotating stuffing tube 70.Water is forced rearwardly from the channel 52 through the passageway 54and engages the advancing meat product as its enters the rearward end ofthe spindle tube 42. The liquid forms a lubricating film 292 between themeat product and the spindle tube. As the product advances, the watercreates a continuous film in intimate contact with the interior surfaceof the stuffing tube 70 and the exterior-surface of the meat productbeing pumped therethrough. The resulting product is superior inappearance since the lubricating qualities of the water prevents damageto the fat cells in the meat product and prevents smear from occurring.The fact that the flow of water is coordinated with the operation of themeat pump insures that a proper amount of lubricating water will beprovided between the meat product and the spindle tube and stuffingtube;

The meat product is forced outwardly from the stuffing tube 70 throughthe fin head thereon and the meat product pulls the casing from thestuffing tube 70. The fins 110 and 110 on the fin head 92 impartrotational drive and longitudinal drag to the casing to provide thecasing with an opportunity to completely fill as it passes from the endof the stuffing tube. The fins on the fin head may be either resilientor spring loaded as previously described.

The meat product is pumped into the casing as seen in FIG. 3 and islinked by the pinching members 188 as also previously described. Thepinching members 188 may be easily replaced as desired therebysubstantially reducing the amount of maintenance required on the linkingapparatus. The guide channels 184 and 186 guide the franks or the likethrough the linking station with the links then being fed to the loopingand conveying apparatus,

The fin heads 118 and 130 function substantially identical to the finhead 92 with the fins thereon imparting rotational drive andlongitudinal drag to the casings thereon so that the casing will becompletely filled as it leaves the stuffing tube. The fins may either beflexible or spring loaded to achieve the necessary ro tational drive andlongitudinal drag between the fins and the casing. As previously stated,the casings are mounted on the stuffing tube- 70 by removing the finhead thereon. However, it should be noted that the easings could also bemounted on the stuffing tube 70 by threadably removing the collar 64 topermit the rearward end of the stuffing tube 70 to be removed from theassembly 68.

Thus is can be seen that a unique apparatus for encasing a productresults in a superior product being provided. Because the casing isrotated both before and after it is filled there are substantiallyminimal torsional forces applied to the casing during the fillingoperation. The fact that the material being continuously pumped into thecasing is also rotating contributes additionally to the reduction oftorsional forces applied to the casing. The pinching members on thelinking apparatus do not accelerate substantially as theypass around thedrive wheels which carry the chains which reduces the whipping action toa minimum when the pinching surfaces engage the casing and grip it toprovide links.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

We claim:

1. Linking apparatus for use with a product encasing machine, saidmachine being adapted to expel an elongated casing filled with plasticproduct and being adapted to rotate said casing about its longitudinalaxis; v

said linking apparatus comprising,

a support;

first and second sets of drive wheels rotatably mounted on said support;

. means for rotating said drive wheels; 1

first and second loop members each comprising a chain trained aroundsaid first and second sets of drive wheels respectively, said wheelsbeing adapted to move said chains 'past a linking station adjacent saidcasing;

a plurality of pinching members detachably mounted on each of saidchains and having pinching surfaces thereon carried around said firstand second sets of drive wheels, each of said pinching surfaces on saidfirst loop member being positioned for cooperating with one of saidpinching surfaces on said second loop member while passing said linkingstation so as to collapse said casing therebetween and reduce its crosssectional size,

said chains having a plurality ofpairs of pin members 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said pinching members are constructed of a one-piecemolded material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pinching members areconstructed of a thermo-plastic material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said loop members carriessaid pinching members in a position wherein a portion of each of saidpinching surface travels at a constant velocity around said sets ofdrive wheels.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resilient attachment meanscomprises a downwardly extending flexible wall having a beveled shoulderextending therefrom adjacent its lower end for partially embracing theundersurface of said chain.

1. Linking apparatus for use with a product encasing machine, saidmachine being adapted to expel an elongated casing filled with plasticproduct and being adapted to rotate said casing about its longitudinalaxis; said linking apparatus comprising, a support; first and secondsets of drive wheels rotatably mounted on said support; means forrotating said drive wheels; first and second loop members eachcomprising a chain trained around said first and second sets of drivewheels respectively, said wheels being adapted to move said chains pasta linking station adjacent said casing; a plurality of pinching membersdetachably mounted on each of said chains and having pinching surfacesthereon carried around said first and second sets of drive wheels, eachof said pinching surfaces on said first loop member being positioned forcooperating with one of said pinching surfaces on said second loopmember while passing said linking station so as to collapse said casingtherebetween and reduce its cross sectional size, said chains having aplurality of pairs of pin members extending therefrom; each of saidpinching members comprising a base portion having a pair of openingsformed therein and a wall member extending upwardly from said baseportion and having said pinching surface formed therein; said pair ofopenings receiving one of said pairs of pins on said chains; and aresilient attachment means extending from said base portion fordetachably partially embracing said chain to maintain said pinchingmember on said chain whereby each of said pinching members areindependently quickly removable from said loop members.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said pinching members are constructed of a one-piecemolded material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pinchingmembers are constructed of a thermo-plastic material.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein each of said loop members carries said pinchingmembers in a position wherein a portion of each of said pinching surfacetravels at a constant velocity around said sets of drive wheels.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said resilient attachment means comprises adownwardly extending flexible wall having a beveled shoulder extendingtherefrom adjacent its lower end for partially embracing theundersurface of said chain.